Heart Flutter

Chapter 4

Aunt Ji’s bathroom was spacious. The one Tang Yan used was a guest bathroom, impeccably clean with not a drop of water stain on the floor. Aunt Ji had mentioned that she didn’t use it often and that there was another bathroom in her bedroom, assuring Tang Yan that she could use the guest bathroom alone without any worries.

Tang Yan hung the few towels she had brought on the towel rack. The storage cabinet contained only a bottle of hand soap and disinfectant. She stood there perplexed, worrying about not having any soap. After a while, Aunt Ji approached her, holding an unopened bottle of body wash and smiled.

“Thank you…” Tang Yan timidly reached out to take it, the strong bathroom lights above her making her feel a bit dizzy.

Ji Yuqing glanced around at the items Tang Yan had brought. It was nothing more than a few old, faded towels, clearly lacking any comfort. She felt a mix of emotions in her heart.

“When do you start school?” Ji Yuqing asked.

“The day after tomorrow,” Tang Yan obediently replied.

“Alright, I understand. Go take a shower. If you need anything, you can call me anytime.”

Tang Yan nodded.

After leaving the bathroom, Ji Yuqing made another phone call to her assistant, mentioning that she might need to take an extra day off.

Tang Yan had never taken such a comfortable shower in her eighteen years. Standing under the showerhead, warm water cascaded down at just the right temperature, soaking every inch of her skin. She was a bit too indulged in the pleasantness, causing her shower time to extend unknowingly. Her fair skin had a slight blush, the room filled with steam, and the mirror was shrouded in fog, making everything appear surreal. Tang Yan raised her hand to wipe a section of the mirror, revealing her flushed face. She quickly wiped it clean and carefully changed into the pajamas Aunt Ji had prepared for her.

Today, Tang Yan was wearing long sleeves and pants, perhaps because the central air conditioning at Aunt Ji’s house was on. She felt a bit chilly, and this attire was just right.

After leaving the bathroom, Tang Yan instinctively glanced towards the living room. In the study directly opposite, Aunt Ji was diligently working at her computer, even this late without resting. Tang Yan thought to herself that Aunt Ji must be very competent at work—a strong, independent woman.

Returning to her bedroom, Tang Yan habitually picked up her phone and saw two WeChat messages from her friend Zhao Xiaoyun. She then unplugged the charger and climbed onto the bed with her phone. The bed was exceptionally soft, with sheets that felt like they hugged her skin—soft and comfortable, giving her the feeling of lying on a cloud. Of course, Tang Yan hadn’t actually been on a cloud; it was just her imagination creating that sensation.

In any case, it was very comfortable, and she didn’t want to get off the bed.

She lifted her phone to check the messages. Zhao Xiaoyun was Tang Yan’s only good friend from her uncle’s village, the same age as her. However, Zhao had been forced to drop out after middle school. Her parents, citing financial difficulties, had sent her out to work to support the family. Zhao Xiaoyun had a younger brother who was now in middle school, but his grades didn’t seem very good. Despite that, he was still the beloved child of Zhao Xiaoyun’s parents.

Indeed, Zhao Xiaoyun’s family was notoriously biased towards boys over girls. Perhaps because Tang Yan’s upbringing was also not ideal, the two children empathized with each other’s struggles, becoming good friends who grew up together.

Zhao Xiaoyun: Have you arrived in Huadu?

Zhao Xiaoyun: I just got off work now, so exhausted.

Zhao Xiaoyun: The factory has been delaying wages again lately. It’s so frustrating.

Tang Yan hugged her phone and began typing a reply.

Tang Yan: Yes, I arrived just after six in the afternoon. I’m staying at a friend of Mom’s house now.

Zhao Xiaoyun: Is she a local in Huadu?

Tang Yan: Mom said she is.

Zhao Xiaoyun: I’m so jealous of you. You can continue your studies, while I can only work. Every day is just work and sleep, living a monotonous life. Sometimes I think there’s no point in living.

Tang Yan: Xiaoyun, don’t think like that…

Zhao Xiaoyun: Sigh, what can I do? I earn just over three thousand a month, and I have to send two thousand back home. I can’t even afford to buy nice clothes for myself.

Tang Yan: Xiaoyun, you should have your own life. You’re only eighteen now. You could take exams to enter university.

Zhao Xiaoyun: Unless I cut off all ties with my family, that’s almost impossible. Besides, going to university costs more money, and I don’t have that much.

Tang Yan didn’t know how to comfort her. She couldn’t possibly persuade her to truly sever ties with her family; such matters were too complicated.

Zhao Xiaoyun: Sigh, let’s not talk about these worries. How is Huadu? Is it really as bustling as they say? After all, it’s the capital of the country, and I’ve never been there despite growing up here.

Tang Yan smiled and replied, “You must come and see it when you have the chance. It’s a completely different world from where we used to live. There are so many skyscrapers here, the roads are so wide, and there’s so much more…”

Tang Yan suddenly ran out of words.

Zhao Xiaoyun: I’m really so jealous of you! [Crying Loudly.jpg]

Tang Yan: Xiaoyun, if you want, you can also come here to find a job. Maybe you’ll find a good opportunity for your own development and make something of yourself.

Zhao Xiaoyun: It’s not as easy as you say. After a few years in society, I realize how fortunate I was to be able to attend school.

Tang Yan: I’m serious, Xiaoyun. Come to Huadu. You’ll grow to love it here.

Zhao Xiaoyun: It’s unfamiliar territory, and the cost of living must be high. I don’t have any relatives there, and my education level isn’t high. Can I really go there?

Tang Yan: I’ll be here. Although… it’s just my first day here, but we can look out for each other. It’s better than you working alone in the south.

Zhao Xiaoyun began to waver. “I’ll think about it. I don’t think my family will agree to me going to Huadu.”

Tang Yan: How will you know unless you try? Try to convince them.

After finishing the chat with Xiaoyun, Tang Yan sprang up, took the notebook and ballpoint pen from the table, and then lay down on the bed to start writing in her diary.

This was a high-quality notebook she had specially chosen at a stationery store before leaving home, intending to record her daily life after coming to Huadu.

[August 30, 2019. Sunny.

Today, I arrived in Huadu and met Aunt Ji. She is a very gentle, beautiful, and charming woman. On the way from the train station in Aunt Ji’s private car, I felt so embarrassed that I threw up. Not only did Aunt Ji not disdain me, but she also handed me water and tissues and helped clean up the vomit in the car. I think she’s a very good person.

Aunt Ji’s house is very large. After entering, I almost couldn’t find my way around. She specially prepared a room for me. I’ve never lived in such a beautiful room before; it felt like a dream. At that moment, I grabbed my thigh hard, feeling the pain, making sure this wasn’t a dream.

During dinner, I asked a silly question. Aunt Ji must have thought I was so dumb. But seeing a successful, beautiful, and charming woman like her being single and unmarried was quite surprising. I couldn’t help but wonder why. Is it… that she hasn’t met the right person?

I don’t know. I think maybe it’s not something I should worry or consider.

I should go to bed early. Good night.]

Having been accustomed to living in the village, Tang Yan was used to waking up early. By six in the morning, she was no longer sleepy but lingered in bed for another ten minutes because it was so comfortable and hard to leave. After getting up, dressing, and washing up, she went to the living room alone. Aunt Ji hadn’t woken up yet, and Tang Yan thought about what she could do, deciding to make breakfast.

She opened the refrigerator and took out two eggs, then grabbed a handful of noodles, preparing to make her best dish—egg noodles.

She chopped some fresh green onions and minced garlic to sprinkle into the noodle bowl later.

Perhaps awakened by the noise outside, Ji Yuqing also got up early. With sleepy eyes and somewhat messy hair, she stepped out of her room wearing slippers. The aroma of scallion oil noodles filled the air. Tang Yan had just finished cooking and was placing the noodles on the dining table.

Hearing footsteps, she instinctively looked up and saw Aunt Ji coming out of the room wearing a low-cut camisole.

Ji Yuqing froze for a moment, clearly feeling a bit awkward. “I forgot there was someone at home…” she said before quickly turning around and closing the door.

Standing by the dining table, Tang Yan scratched her head and then her face, feeling a bit flushed. What was happening?

Ji Yuqing felt embarrassed and found a long coat that reached her knees to put on before coming out again. It seemed she needed to be more careful about her attire at home. Although Tang Yan was also a girl, this situation was still inappropriate.

“You’ve made breakfast already,” Ji Yuqing asked with a smile, trying to cover up her earlier embarrassment.

Tang Yan nodded and hurriedly helped Aunt Ji pull out a chair. “Aunt Ji, please try…”

“Don’t just stand there. Sit down and eat together,” Ji Yuqing said as she sat down and picked up her chopsticks to take the first bite. She added, “After breakfast, I’ll take you out to see what items you might need to buy. Since you’ll be staying at school from Monday to Friday, we need to prepare.”

Tang Yan obediently nodded while eating her noodles.

She didn’t dare to look directly at Aunt Ji’s face. If she wasn’t careful, her mind would be filled with the earlier scene, making both of them quite awkward.